Fountain pen



N. MCKAY FOUNTAIN PEN July 15, 1952 Filed July 2e, 1949 n) w we JQN/ iulgq Qv Patented July 15, 1952 vUNITED sTAT-.ES

'y 2,608,188 Y u Y l FOUNTAIN PEN Y f Neil McKay, Moncton, Brunswick, Canada i Application July 26,` 1949, Serial No. 106,868

sclaims- (011201-11216) i This invention relates to writing implements, and more particularly to fountain pens having a reserve ink supply to be transferred to the main chamber when it has become empty.

Broadly the invention comprises a main cham-A ber and an auxiliaryvchamber which contains a reserve ink supply to be transferred into the main chamber when it has become empty. A ball check valve is disposed lbetween the two chambers `and the said valve is so 'constructed as to permit the flow of ink in one direction only, that is, from the auxiliary chamber to the main chamber.

The invention also comprises apen having a pump constructedtherein which when operated fllls'the4 auxiliary chamber and then the main chamber. 1

Unlike other pens, the present invention contemplates a pen which is filled from the extremity opposite the pen'point or nib.

The primary object of my invention is therefore to provide a fountain pen having an auxiliary ink supply to betransferred to the main compartment when it has become empty.

Another important object is to provide apen which is filled from the extremity opposite the nib, so that the writingextremity of the pen is always kept clean and free from sludge which sometimes formsin ink wells;

Other apparent objects are the Vprovision of a new and novel writing implement which is efficient, easy to use, durable and of comparatively low manufacturing cost'.

f With these and other objectsin View that may appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel arrangement of cooperating elements as hereinafter more specically set forth, claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing forming part of this application and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a pen, and

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail of the main and auxiliary ink chambers constructed in accordance with my invention.

Referring more in detail to the drawing in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the both views, it will be seen the invention comprises a fountain pen having a body portion made of three separate parts threadably engaged and a cap 5 to cover the nib 6 both of which are of conventional structure.

The body portion comprises three main parts constituting a nib 8, a rst or main chamber 1 and a second or auxiliary chamber 8 which are preferably demountable to permit access to the valves used lto close the inlet pas-sages of the tion of the body. I- y ink chambers againstv returnow of ink there--k from. The main chamber 1 is.within the portion of the body closer to the nib extremitywhile the auxiliary chamber 8 is in the centralV por- The rear portion crcap 9 is kused inl; pumping mechanism. f

The entrance to the mainjchamber 1 is closed by a ball check valve consisting f a rrear wall I0 having an opening II formed *centrallytherethrough and a conicalball seat l2. Aball I3 is held against the seat by/ means of ai conical spring I4, the rear Wall VI() and spring. llbeing' held imposition by means 'of a recess I5 formed between the rst and central portion of the` body. The pumping mechanism comprises a tubular member I6 having-an enlarged`.portion at the free extremity thereof and a coil spring I8 held by the enlarged-portion. An ink inlet means is formed throughthe wallsof the-tube I6 com.- municating the interior thereof to the exteriorat the top of thepen adapted for submergencein ink such as the transverseV bores I9 disposed adjacent the enlarged portion. 1 l At the inner extremityof saidV tube 'I6 a con cave seat 20 is formed on which is seatedV aball check 2I whichis held in'position bya conical spring 22. An enlarged annular shoulder por-y tion '23 is also formed Yat the inner extremitygof the tube I6 and a recess 24 is formedin said enlarged portion. The said recess 1. is 'formed to hold a -resilient .sack 25 or, sleeve vformed "of rubber or rubber-like material by means of'a ring 26. A seal 21 secures the rear extremity of the sack against the wall of the central portion. The said seal is conical and sits on a tapered portion 28 of the .inner wall of the central portion. The seal 21 is kept in constant engagement with said inclined wall by means of a bushing 29 which is threaded in position. lThe tube I6 is slidable within bushing 29 and ring 21, clearance (exaggerated in the drawing for the purpose of clarity) being provided to permit such sliding movement. The spring I8 acts between the rear ex' tremity of the bushing 29 and the front end of the enlarged portion I1 of the tube I6. The cap 9 is threaded to the outer rear wall of the bushing and covers the protruding extremity of the tube I6.

The pen is filled by removing thehcap 9 and inserting the outer extremity of the tube I5 into an ink well so as to submerge bores I9 in ink. Downward pressure exerted against the casing 1 with the head I1 of tube I6 engaging the botto cover ltheY tom of the inkwell or the like will cause the tubel |6-to slide against the pressure of the spring I8 forcing ink from the inlet ports I8 through the tube 30 against the check valve 2|, the pressure causing the check valve 2l to open to admit ink into the auxiliary reservoir 8. Obviously, the sack 25 will serve as a seal for the interior of auxiliary reservoir 8 While its resiliency will permit engagement of tube I6 to effect a pumping action. This operation isV repeated several times until the auxiliary reservoir 8 is filled, at which time the introduction of additional ink will cause the opening of the ball valve H to permit an ink flow from auxiliary reservoir 8 into main reservoir 1. This operation is also repeated until the main reservoir is iilled.

The penis substantially used in normal marmer and in the event that the ink in the main reservoir 1 is exhausted at such time as no supply of ink is available, the cap 9 may be removed and end I1 of tube I6 placed against any solid surface and reciprocated, which reciprocation will serve to force ink from auxiliary reservoir 8 past ball valve Il into the main reservoir. Obviously, after the auxiliary reservoir is exhausted, at the next opportunity the user will ll both reservoirs in the manner above described.

Thus, there will always be available, since the main reservoir cannot be iilled without filling the auxiliary reservoir, a supplemental supply of ink of emergency use.

Although the preferred embodiment has been disclosed, it is to be understood that minor changes may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claiml is:

1.7A fountain pen as set forth comprising a body formed of a plurality of sections threadably engageable with each other having a front section adapted for mounting of a nib therein, a main chamber in one of said sections, an auxiliary chamber at the rear of said main chamber, a check valve between said chambers, a pump having a passage opening within said auxiliary chamber to ll both chambers, and a second check valve carried by said pump and disposed within said auxiliary chamber for closing said passage to prevent the ink in the auxiliary chamber from escaping rearwardly from said auxiliary chamber.

2. In a fountain pen as claimed in claim I said pump comprising a tube having an open end and a closed end, an enlarged portion at said closed end and an aperture formed through said tube adjacent the enlarged portion communicating the tube exteriorly thereof for entry of ink into said tube, a seat formed at the other extremity, a ball check valve secured to said seat by means of a conical spring, an annular shoulder disposed at the rear of said seat, a recess formed in said shoulder. a rubber-like sack held on said shoulder by means of a ring disposed in said recess means to seal the rear extremity oi said sack and means to retain said seal in a xed Y position` 3. vA fountain pen as described comprising a lbody having a forward writing end and a rear ink inlet end, a main chamber in communication with said writing end, an inlet passage leading into said main chamber, valve means for closing said inlet to prevent return flow of ink from said main chamber, an auxiliary chamber disposed rearwardly from the main chamber and communicating with said inlet, a pump means opening into the auxiliary chamber having a slidable tubular member formed with an apertured end extending exteriorly of the body, said tubular member having an opposite end movable toward said inlet of the main chamber, a second valve means spring urged against said opposite end of the tubular member to close the pump against withdrawal of ink from the auxiliary chamber, and a iiexible sleeve encircling said tubular member having opposite circular ends thereof engaging between the body rearwardly of the auxiliary chamber and the opposite end of said tubular member withinsaid auxiliary chamber.

NEIL McKAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

